When it comes to vocational education and training, an incredible amount of time and energy goes into ensuring learners receive the appropriate and relevant training required for their qualifications.
But what about making sure sure the trainers receive the knowledge and skills needed in order to meet the Standards and create an engaging learning experience?
Here, we take a look at the ‘train the trainer‘ requirements in vocational education.
Meeting the Requirements to Deliver Training
Trainers and assessors must meet the requirements set forth in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).
The requirements for trainers and assessors are:
- A diploma or higher level qualification in adult education, or
- TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, or
- TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, as well as both of the following:
- TAELLN411 Address Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Skills, or TAELLN401A, and
- TAEASS502 Design and Develop Assessment Tools or TAEASS502A or TAEASS502B.
To act as an assessor only, you must hold one of the following:
- Any of the trainer and assessor requirements, or
- TAESS00011 Assessor Skill Set, or
- TAESS00001 Assessor Skill Set and TAEASS502 Design and Develop Assessment Tools.
Source: https://www.asqa.gov.au/rto/responsibilities/tae-delivery-obligations
Training Courses for Trainers and Assessors
Trainers and assessors have three options for meeting the training requirements. The first is a diploma or higher qualification in adult education, the second is the TAE40116 course, and the third is to upgrade the TAE40110 course (if they have already taken it) to the TAE40116 level by taking TAELLN411 and TAEASS502.
Assessors can choose any of the options for trainers and assessors, or they can take either TAESS00011 or both TAESS00001 and TAEASS502.
An overview of each of the training and education (TAE) courses for essential training skills
TAE50116 Diploma of Vocational Education and Training
The diploma of vocational education and training prepares learners to fill advanced roles delivering training and assessment services for RTOs. This course trains individuals to take on leadership or mentorship roles within the RTO.
Individuals who earn the diploma of vocational education and training learn how to create learning strategies, conduct a training needs analysis, and design assessment tools. They develop learner independence and practise leading other assessors. They also learn how identify students who have language, literacy, and numeracy challenges.
Students must fulfil the practicum requirements to earn the TAE50116 diploma of vocational education training. These requirements include providing advanced assessment practice, maintaining and enhancing professional practice, and designing and developing assessment tools.
Source: https://www.mrwed.edu.au/course/tae50116/diploma-vocational-education-and-training
TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Certificate IV in training and assessment prepares individuals who will be providing training and assessment services in the vocational education and training (VET) sector. It is a good choice for anyone who plans to perform workplace assessments, offer on-the-job training in an employment setting, or deliver training programs in a formal training environment.
Before enrolling in this program, the student must demonstrate competency in the area in which they will be teaching. They must have broad industry experience and knowledge and may be required to hold a relevant qualification.
While enrolled in the Certificate IV in training and assessment training program, students will learn how to design lesson plans that effectively transmit knowledge to their students. They will also practise ways to support workplace learning, develop confidence in their presentation skills, and learn what type of evidence is required to show that a student has gained competence in an area.
Career opportunities for those who earn a certificate IV in training and assessment include lecturer, coach, mentor, workshop facilitator, workplace assessor, and enterprise trainer.
Source: https://www.mrwed.edu.au/course/tae40116/certificate-iv-in-training-and-assessment
TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
TAE40110 certificate IV in training and assessment has been replaced by TAE40116 certificate IV in training and assessment. If you have already taken TAE40110, you can upgrade to TAE40116 by taking either TAELLN411 or TAELLN401A and one of the following: TAEASS502, TAEASS502A, or TAEASS502B.
Source: https://www.asqa.gov.au/rto/responsibilities/tae-delivery-obligations
TAELLN411 Address Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Skills
This course prepares learners to address LLN skills in their training programs. Individuals learn how to use validated LLN assessment tools to evaluate the skills of their students, decide when specialised support is needed, and determine the training and workplace LLN requirements. They also learn how to modify educational resources to make them LLN appropriate.
The TAELLN411 course covers support strategies for the development of LLN skills, LLN learning resources, programs and services for LLN, and incorporating LLN into training packages.
Trainers learn how to help their students use their LLN skills to meet the requirements of their workplace and vocational training programs.
Source: https://www.mrwed.edu.au/course/taelln411/address-adult-language-literacy-and-numeracy-skills
TAELLN401A Address Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Skills
This course has been superseded by TAELLN411 but is still acceptable as an equivalent training course if you have already taken it.
Source: https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/TAELLN401A
TAEASS502 Design and Develop Assessment Tools
This course gives individuals the skills they need to be able to develop their own assessment tools and collect evidence of their students’ competency. Those who take this course learn the principles of reasonable adjustment, how to contextualise assessment tools, and the purpose of assessment tools. They will practise developing their own assessment tools.
Source: https://www.mrwed.edu.au/course/taeass502/design-and-develop-assessment-tools
TAEASS502A or TAEASS502B
TAEASS502A was superseded by TAEASS502B, which was superseded by TAEASS502. Any of these three courses is equally acceptable for upgrading TAE40110 to TAE40116.
Sources: https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/TAEASS502A, https://training.gov.au/training/details/taeass502b
TAESS00011 Assessor Skill Set
This program is designed to provide assessor competencies to VET practitioners. Students must possess strong industry knowledge in the area they will be teaching before enrolling in this program.
TAESS00011 includes four units:
- plan assessment activities and processes
- assess competence
- participate in assessment validation, and
- design and develop assessment tools.
Source: https://www.connect.edu.au/courses/taess00011-assessor-skill-set/
TAESS00001 Assessor Skill Set
TAESS00001 assessor skill set was superseded by TAESS00011. Individuals who have taken TAESS00001 must also take TAEASS502 to be compliant.
Sources: https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/TAESS00001, https://www.asqa.gov.au/rto/responsibilities/tae-delivery-obligations
TAEASS502 Design and Develop Assessment Tools
This unit teaches individuals how to design and develop assessment tools that meet the quality standards of Australia’s vocational education system. During the course, students will design and develop at least three assessment tools to be used in a variety of contexts. They will demonstrate knowledge of the process for developing assessment tools and show how their own tools have been tested and reviewed.
Other Requirements
In addition to these qualification requirements, trainers and assessors also need to possess vocational competencies to the assessment level, at minimum. They also must have current industry skills and knowledge in training and learning.
Working Under Supervision
In some instances, if a trainer or assessor doesn’t meet the requirements, they may be able to continue working under supervision. In this case, they must have:
- at least one of the skill sets identified in Item 6 of Schedule 1 here
- current industry skills directly related to the the training and assessment provided
- vocational competencies to the level being delivered and assessed, at minimum
When working under supervision, trainers and assessors can’t determine assessment outcomes but can be involved in the assessment process.
In Conclusion
While training providers must continue to focus on their learners and ensuring they receive the appropriate and relevant training required for their qualifications, it’s they mustn’t forget the requirements for their trainers and assessors.
Source: https://www.asqa.gov.au/resources/fact-sheets/meeting-trainer-and-assessor-requirement
